Program Code: 155-02
The Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Services with a Funeral Directing major, prepares students for careers in the field of funeral directing and client care. The Funeral Directing curriculum addresses the changing needs and demands of contemporary funeral directing, business management and entrepreneurship. Entrance requirements for this program include graduation from high school or completion of the GED and submission of a high school transcript or GED certificate, and placement or readiness for ENG 111. Transcripts from other colleges attended must be sent to Tidewater Community College, Office of the College Registrar, P.O. Box 9000, Norfolk, Virginia, 23509. These transcripts must be evaluated before any transfer credit is granted prior to the application deadline. Credit will not be granted for courses taken five years or more prior to the date of enrollment. Credit will only be granted for Funeral Service (FNS) courses taken at institutions accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education www.abfse.org.
Following acceptance into the program, students must maintain a C or better in all FNS courses and in SOC 200 and PSY 116 . Students will be required to have completed twenty-four credit hours in order to enroll inFNS 126 , FNS 231 , FNS 232 , FNS 295 , FNS 236 , FNS 298 . In order to take the second part of sequenced courses, a grade of C or better must be earned in the initial course.
In order to receive a Funeral Directors license in the Commonwealth of Virginia, an individual must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent;
2. Have completed a funeral service internship prescribed by the board in regulation;
3. Have graduated from a school of mortuary science or funeral service accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Incorporated, or have completed an Associate’s Degree or its equivalent, which consists of at least 60 credit hours of coursework from a funeral directing program approved by the board;
4. Have successfully completed coursework in the area of pathology as approved by the board;
5. Have passed the National Board Examination in Arts or Virginia State Board Examination in Arts of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards; and
6. Have passed the Virginia State Board Examination on the laws, rules, and regulations for funeral practice.
The Tidewater Community College A.A.S. in Funeral Directing is designed to prepare students for entry level positions as funeral directors. This includes preparation for the State Board Examination in Arts of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (https://theconferenceonline.org/).
This academic program is designed to meet specific state or professional needs. It is NOT accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Students graduating from this program are not eligible to take the National Board Examination or any state board examination for which graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.
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